
A Princess of Mars
A Princess of Mars is a science fiction novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first published in 1917. The story follows the adventures of John Carter, a Civil War veteran who finds himself transported to the planet Mars (also known as Barsoom) after being struck by a strange ray during a battle.
On Mars, Carter encounters various alien species and becomes embroiled in their conflicts, including a struggle between the red-skinned Martians and the green-skinned Tharks. He also falls in love with Dejah Thoris, a beautiful Princess of Mars, and must navigate the complex political landscape of the planet to save her from various threats.
The novel is notable for its blend of action, adventure, and romance, as well as its exploration of themes such as courage, honor, and loyalty. It has been influential in shaping the science fiction genre and has inspired numerous adaptations and spin-offs, including films, comics, and video games.
By Edgar Rice Burroughs · First published 1912 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Romance · 28 chapters · 73,179 words
First lines
I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, possibly more; but I cannot tell because I have never aged as other men, nor do I remember any childhood. So far as I can recollect I have always been a man, a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did forty years and more ago, and yet I feel that I cannot go on living forever; that some day I shall die the real death from which there is no resurrection. I do not know why I should fear death, I who have died twice and am still alive; but yet I have the same horror of it as you who have never died, and it is because of this terror of death, I believe, that I am so convinced of my mortality.
What this Textopian page supports
A Princess of Mars is listed on Textopian as a novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, dated 1912 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
- Date: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Fantasy, Action
- Length: 73,179 words
- Structure: 28 chapters, 1,042 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Princess of Mars?
- How does this novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
Genres
- Science Fiction — The book is set on Mars and involves otherworldly creatures and science-based elements like travel through space.
- Adventure — The protagonist embarks on various adventures and quests, exploring the landscapes of Mars and encountering multiple challenges.
- Romance — A significant subplot in the novel revolves around the protagonist's love for Dejah Thoris, the Martian princess.
- Fantasy — The book imagines a completely different civilization on Mars with its own rules, cultures, and types of beings, where real-world laws of nature are suspended.
Tags
science fiction · Mars · adventure · fantasy · romance · alien cultures · warrior · exploration · heroism · interplanetary · civilization · dystopia
Contents
- CHAPTER I: On the Arizona Hills
- CHAPTER II: The Escape of the Dead
- CHAPTER III: My Advent on Mars
- CHAPTER IV: A Prisoner
- CHAPTER V: I Elude My Watch Dog
- CHAPTER VI: A Fight That Won Friends
- CHAPTER VII: Child-Raising on Mars
- CHAPTER VIII: A Fair Captive from the Sky
- CHAPTER IX: I Learn the Language
- CHAPTER X: Champion and Chief
- CHAPTER XI: With Dejah Thoris
- CHAPTER XII: A Prisoner with Power
- CHAPTER XIII: Lovemaking on Mars
- CHAPTER XIV: A Duel to the Death
- CHAPTER XV: Sola Tells Me Her Story
- CHAPTER XVI: We Plan Escape
- CHAPTER XVII: A Costly Recapture
- CHAPTER XVIII: Chained in Warhoon
- CHAPTER XIX: Battling in the Arena
- CHAPTER XX: In the Atmosphere Factory
- CHAPTER XXI: An Air Scout for Zodanga
- CHAPTER XXII: I Find Dejah
- CHAPTER XXIII: Lost in the Sky
- CHAPTER XXIV: Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend
- CHAPTER XXV: The Looting of Zodanga
- CHAPTER XXVI: Through Carnage to Joy
- CHAPTER XXVII: From Joy to Death
- CHAPTER XXVIII: At the Arizona Cave
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